As part of its effort to help conflict-affected people in Libya to have access to a temporary work opportunity for income generation, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partnered with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Municipality of Abu Salim to implement the first “Cash for Work” initiative in Libya.

Funded by the Government of Japan, the first “cash for work” initiative in Libya will allow targeted people based in Abu Salim to meet their basic needs, improve their living standards and contribute to their short- and medium-term economic self-reliance.

The initiative will target 100 workers among local vulnerable populations such as women, internal displaced persons (IDPs) youth, conflict affected population, migrant and refugees that will be able to support their households and contribute to the improvement of public infrastructure for the benefit of the whole community.

The Mayor, Mr. Abdel Rahman Alhamdi, stated: “I truly welcome "cash for work" initiative. Abu Salim municipality is one of the municipalities affected by the conflict, and this program is providing urgent livelihood opportunities for the most needy population in a municipality of 400,000 people. The success of this pilot project is success in all other affected municipalities, and the municipality will work to provide the necessary coordination in line with the rules and procedures of the United Nations Development Programme. We thank UNDP and the Danish Refugee Council for their consistent support”.

On her part, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Libya, Ms. Gozde AVCI-LEGRAND, declared: “Globally, cash assistance has been established as one of the most efficient means of supporting people to meet their most urgent needs, maintaining flexibility, choice and dignity. In Libya, UNDP wants to contribute to provide this flexibility and dignity to those who needed the most.”